IPL 2018: CSK caught in the wheel of time
The Chennai Legacy
The Chennai Super Kings has been one of the most successful teams in the Indian Premier League since its inception. Although Chennai did not participate in the league for the last 2 years, CSK had never failed to qualify for the final four and even went on to lift the trophy twice in the eight seasons that it had featured in.
Comeback
In IPL 2018, where the team is making a comeback in the blockbuster league the Chennai Super Kings seem to have a very tough road ahead. Right from retaining MS Dhoni as captain to getting back its core set of players like Suresh Raina and Dwayne Bravo the Chennai think-tank has been taking their decisions based on emotions and nostalgia rather than the present form of players and long-term consequences.
Will they fire?
Although the team has some big names: Suresh Raina, Faf du Plessis, MS Dhoni, Dwayne Bravo, Shane Watson, it is worth noting that the likes of Bravo (last played a T20I in 2016) and Watson (who looked a pale shadow of himself in IPL 2017 with 8 matches, 71 runs, and 5 wickets) do not play for their national team anymore and even though Dhoni is still very much a part of the limited overs Indian side, it is fair to say that he isn’t the Dhoni of 2010/11 when the Super Kings lifted the trophy.
Even Faf du Plessis has not been among the runs lately and could struggle to score heavily right from his first match even if he is fit and ready to go. In such circumstances, the form of Suresh Raina who will most likely bat at No. 3 will be critical for the franchise since he has looked good in the T20I series recently and a good tournament will put his international career back on track.
Harbhajan Singh the veteran off-spinner is another addition to the list of greats who is playing for CSK but is in the latter stage of his career. Bhajji has been one of the main weapons for MI in the previous years and will bring his massive experience into play when he dons the yellow jersey.
Ravindra Jadeja, who is only representing India in Whites presently, will have a major role to play both with the bat and the ball for CSK and it would be exciting to watch Dhoni keeping wickets to Jadeja and Bhajji in a CSK match. Jadeja can revive his limited-overs career if he makes a mark in this tournament and things can definitely take a turn in his favor.
Opportunities
Murali Vijay, Ambati Rayudu who have been there but not quite there- kind of players in the IPL will have to upgrade themselves especially in this kind of a CSK setup. Vijay who missed the previous IPL has plenty of potential even in the shortest format of the game, the glimpses of which he has shown from time to time. However, it is high time that at the top of the order, Murali Vijay provides the much-needed stability to the CSK side.
Kedar Jadhav can be the floater in the side and given his useful part-time spin bowling discovered by Dhoni himself is a wonderful addition to the CSK squad. From the domestic circuit, Rahul Chahar and Dhruv Shorey can be the players to watch out for as both are coming after a tremendous run in the domestic season. While Shorey had a good Ranji Trophy season, Chahar played a vital role in Rajasthan reaching the finals of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.
Big area of concern
When one looks at the fast bowling department, one is further disappointed as it is the seam bowling department that looks really dull. Although the Chennai stadium helps the spinners, even by that logic half the matches will be played at other venues and few more seaming options would have made things a lot easier.
Lungi Ngidi, Shardul Thakur, and Mark Wood will lead the attack, all of whom are taking their initial steps in their international career. Rahul Chahar can aid them in their duties. Chahar’s good form can allow CSK the liberty to exercise other overseas options.
Coached by Stephen Fleming and led by MS Dhoni, CSK is a good side with reputed players just that the year is 2018 and not 2011.